Electrical issues with 96 Eddie bauer edition

[urbanknight]

Been having really annoying issues lately with my Tail lights and interior panel lights. They keep blowing the panel fuse, when I replace the fuse it works for about 2-5 seconds then the fuse blows again. I have the haynes manual, with electrical diagrams but hell, as far as a solid diagnostic proceedure, I have yet to find anything. Anyone Help please?

[Davescort97]

It sounds like you've got a short to ground. As far as a diagnoistic procedure I can only tell you what an old-timer mechanic told me. You wire a turn signal flasher into the hot circuit. Instead of the fuse blowing, the flasher goes like a banshee. To tell where the short to ground is, you take a compass and follow the wiring. Wherever the short is you will be able to tell by the compass needle pulling towards it. The flasher in the circuit sets up a magnetic field where the short is. I can't testify to this, but it seems semi-plausible. Has anyone else heard of this?